Soldiers Mourn Fallen Comrade

Photo By Master Sgt. Paul Tuttle | The firing squad for a memorial service for Sgt. Eric Holke, 31, salutes the display at Camp Virginia, Kuwait, July 21. Holke, a native of Riverside, Calif., died from wounds sustained in a non-combat related incident south of An Nasariyah, Iraq, July 15 while on convoy operations. Holke was assigned to 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, California National Guard, and deployed to Kuwait in June 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

07.22.2007

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Paul Tuttle 

640th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

By Sgt. 1st Class Paul Tuttle
640th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Scores of Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment of the California National Guard and other units pressed into Camp Virginia's Chapel to honor a fallen comrade in a memorial service July 21.

Sgt. Eric M. Holke, 31, died from wounds sustained in a non-combat related incident near An Nasariyah, Iraq, July 15. He was promoted to sergeant posthumous.

Holke was a member of the 160th Infantry Regiment. The 160th deployed to Kuwait in June 2007 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Artesia, Calif., native was a gunner in a guntruck crew that provided escort security for supply convoys. This was his second mobilization to the Middle East.

Holke first entered the Army in February 2001 and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from November 2002 to May 2003 as a member of the 73rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C.

His commander, Capt. Edwin Rodriguez recalled Holke as "...a man of quiet confidence and selflessness rarely seen in our present day."

"He always had a positive outlook on life with a clear purpose and a sense of resolve in our cause," he said. "He had a genuine personality, always willing and able to assist anyone that needs it."

Holke's squad leader, Staff Sgt. Victor Zavalza, reminded everyone that Holke was a civilian as well as a Soldier. "Sgt. Holke, like all of us, chose his life as a citizen-Soldier," he said. "He loved kids and worked with autistic children as a civilian. Not many knew him as a newly-wed who couldn't wait to give his stepson driving lessons."

After 1st Sgt. Christen Baity called the final roll and the report of the last round of the 21-gun salute echoed throughout the Chapel, the lonely, forlorn notes of Taps reminded everyone about the loss of their friend and comrade.

The service ended as Soldiers from the Commanding General of Third Army, Lt. Gen. R. Steven Whitcomb, to the youngest private there rendered honors.

All rendered slow, reverent final salutes and many placed tokens of tribute on the display – some ripping their unit patches from their shoulders before somberly placing them next to his boots.

Holke was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

He is survived by his wife, stepson and parents.

• Date Taken: 07.22.2007
• Date Posted: 07.22.2007 11:39
• Story ID: 11396
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW